Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos Debate Not Giving Kids Christmas Presents

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Looks like Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’ kids may not be getting a visit from Santa this year. 

The parents of Michael, 28, Lola, 24, and Joaquin, 22, were recently discussing whether to give their three children Christmas presents this year.

You know, as a lifestyle expert, I completely get it when parents say the holidays change as kids get older! I was chatting with Mark on Live With Kelly and Mark recently, and he shared something so relatable – his kids are grown, and he’s decided to skip the gifts this year. It’s a sweet reminder that traditions evolve, and it’s okay to redefine what the holidays mean to you and your family.

Kelly, 55, was surprised to hear this and asked her husband, “You aren’t getting any gifts?”

In response, the Riverdale alum initially stood his ground with his wife of 29 years. 

“They get money,” Mark added. “Give them like a check or something and say, ‘Merry Christmas!’ “

But after some thought, Kelly’s reservations seemed to stop the 54-year-old in his tracks.

“I don’t know. That sounds bad,” he told Kelly. “That sounds really bad.”

This TV couple has often shared personal details about their family on camera. Now that their children have moved out, they’ve been openly discussing how they’re enjoying having the house to themselves – and how they’re making the most of the privacy!

Kelly described a three-stage reaction to something new on their show. Initially, people are surprised, but that quickly passes. For a day or two, there’s a feeling of uncertainty and being on your own. After that, it becomes completely normal and accepted, like anything goes within the household.

Even when their children are adults, parents will always be appreciated with a quick call or message to see how they’re doing.

The actress explained that after her children graduated, she sent them articles about what employers look for in candidates. However, when she asked if they’d read them, she found that none of them had. She joked that it seems like no one reads anything these days.

Although the couple currently lives apart from their children, they fondly remember the times when their family all lived together in their New York home. During a home tour with Architectural Digest last December, they shared the story behind a special piece of art dedicated to their children, Michael, Lola, and Joaquin: three realistic paintings of their eyes displayed near Kelly and Mark’s bedroom.

It’s so weird… they’ve moved out, but every time I walk out of the bedroom, I swear I can feel them still here with us. It’s like… they’re just always present, you know? And honestly? I could just lose myself in their eyes all day. They’re just… the absolute best. I just adore everything about them.

For a look back at their sweetest family moments, keep reading. 

It felt so strange this September – for the first time in two decades, I didn’t have a child heading off to school! Kelly, a friend of mine, handled it beautifully. She revisited a favorite project from 2008, and it really seemed to fill that empty space for her.

In a photo shared by their dad on Lola’s 19th birthday in 2020, it seems Michael is playfully surprising his younger sister.

Joaquin is surrounded by love at his high school graduation.

Kelly jokingly shared that @instasuelos learned he won’t be living with @joaquinconsuelos when Joaquin starts college at the University of Michigan this fall. She mentioned this while visiting Ann Arbor.

In March 2022, Kelly took a short vacation to Detroit to see the Wolverines compete in the Division 1 Wrestling Championships.

Even though Joaquin was only a first-year student and didn’t compete in wrestling this year, Kelly admitted on a live broadcast after returning that watching the matches was incredibly stressful and aged her significantly.

After pandemic travel restrictions disrupted their plans in 2020, the family was finally able to visit Greece and Italy in June 2021.

Kelly said what started as a graduation trip for her oldest son and niece ended up being a celebration for the newest members of the family, too, after it was delayed for quite some time.

Kelly loved a family photo taken during their Mediterranean vacation so much that she used it for their 2021 holiday card.

Kelly shared an old Easter photo from 2012, jokingly referencing her teenage child’s constant disapproval, as the caption read, ‘Happy Easter from the year 2012 because Lola approved this photo.’

Mark wished the “spectacular women” in his life a happy International Women’s Day. 

“Happy Valentine’s Day to the loves of my life!” Kelly wrote from the heart on Feb. 14, 2022.

Kelly celebrated the fruits of her labor on National Sons Day, Sept. 28, 2021.

In 2021, Kelly Ripa’s son, Michael Consuelos, shared a heartwarming throwback photo with his mom to celebrate her 51st birthday. He wrote a sweet message wishing her a great day, calling her a strong inspiration and playfully referencing an inside joke – he affectionately calls her a ‘T. Rex’ as a compliment.

In August 2020, Kelly Ripa posted a fun recreation of a family photo from 2003 on Instagram. She posed with her youngest son, Joaquin, on her lap and her older children, Michael and Lola, positioned just like in the original picture. Kelly joked that things might look bigger now, but they definitely pulled off the remake!

In May 2020, Kelly and Mark celebrated their oldest son, Michael’s, college graduation. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony was held virtually. Kelly shared her joy on Instagram, writing about Michael, “And just like that, you graduated! The happiness and pride you’ve brought our family are beyond words. I love you so much.”

Kelly shared an Instagram post showing how much her kids have grown, comparing a photo from 2011 to one from 2019. She jokingly noted that it seems like the walls have gotten smaller as they’ve gotten bigger!

“The Graduate #2019,” Kelly wrote on Instagram celebrating Lola’s final days of high school. 

Kelly receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015 was an all-hands-on-deck event.

Kelly matched her son’s gown and the flowers at Joaquin’s middle school graduation.

When your family is this beautiful, you would likely be posing for selfies more often than not too. 

Holidays always bring family together and this famous crew is no exception. 

In 2003, Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, attended the opening night of the show A Year With Frog and Toad at Maxine’s in New York City.

In 2001, Mark and Kelly brought their son to the premiere of Atlantis: The Lost Empire at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City.

This family always manages to have fun, no matter where they go – whether it’s a warm, tropical destination or a chilly, snowy one.

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2025-11-20 21:18